30 JOB APPLICATIONS and no one INVITATION! Are you wondering why you haven’t been contacted? You have refreshed your email at intervals, yet, invitations aren’t dropping. Your phone is fully charged but the only calls you are receiving are from families and friends.

It’s very funny when you have applied for a job where it appears you are a perfect match and you haven’t heard from the employer after spending so much time building and structuring a CV/Resume with an attractive cover letter. The reason is, many recruiters and hiring managers are searching for the perfect candidate.

Below are the top reasons why you may not have been contacted for an interview, if you fall into any of these categories, revisit your application materials and make adjustment accordingly.

Your Job Role is not a Match: You were screened out immediately the hiring manager discovered your job role didn’t match the requirements listed in the job post. Recruiters are too busy to take the time to figure out whether someone is a strong applicant. They are looking for you to show them why you’re qualified.

You lack the job qualification: Your qualification & skills are the only requirement needed to excel in the job. Only apply for the job when your qualification and skills match the job posting

You didn’t follow direction: All necessary information requested was not provided or you didn’t follow the methods and direction for the application. Make sure you’ve covered all the bases, especially when you are applying for a job online.

You lack the required experience: If you lack the right experience for that job role, you will probably not get an interview invite.

You have employment gaps: An unexplained gap in your CV/Resume is already a red flag for a prospective employer. It leaves the question of what you have been doing during the time you weren’t gainfully employed.

You didn’t showcase your accomplishments: It takes only 5 minutes for a recruiter to glance through a job seeker’s CV/Resume, try and convert your job roles to accomplishments and skills, and if possible represent the skills graphically.

You submitted a generic cover letter: Your cover letter was not tailored to the job; the reason for a cover letter is to sell your accomplishment to the hiring manager. Fashion it to show what you have accomplished in your previous roles and show what you can offer the company. Be realistic and specific about this.

Your unprofessional Social Media presence: Most recruiters’ trace you to your social media handles before given your CV/Resume an audience, your online image may have damage your candidacy. Before applying check your social media presence, adjust your privacy settings and ensure everything available to the public is appropriate.

Your CV/Resume is full of errors: It is not always easy to sight your own errors, spend enough time proofreading the application documents or call the assistance of a professional to look them over for you.

Getting an interview invite is a great accomplishment, but this doesn’t guarantee you an offer letter. Passing through an interview successfully and making a good first impression often determine a job candidate’s fate.

A little preparation is needed when getting ready for an interview and one of the most important aspects of preparation usually involves researching the company you are applying, reading its job description, its positional requirements and expectations, and determining how your personal qualifications match company needs.

Before going in for an interview, prepare some of the most common questions so that you can practice how you might answer difficult questions.

10 common interview questions asked by employers, including why they are typically asked and suggestions on how to answer them are highlighted below.

Why are you leaving your current job? This question helps spot potential personnel issues with your employer and gauges a candidate’s motivations. Keep your answers positive, honest and concise, and explain how the desired job fits your personal and professional skills.

Why should we hire you? This looks intimidating, but a great advantage to sell yourselves and your qualifications. Use words that were present in the job description. Be clear and concise and detail your reasons based on personal strengths and employer needs.

Why do you want this job? This is an opportunity for candidates to sell themselves to the interviewer while identifying aspects of the job that fit their skills and experience. Explain why you are interested in the job and be confident. Employers may put emphasis on personality and a positive attitude.

What are your strengths and weaknesses? This is asked in an effort to not only identify traits desired for the position and weaknesses that might serve as red flags, but also to determine a candidate’s self-awareness level. Approach this question is with honesty, frame your strengths with how they can fit the company’s needs, mention your weaknesses briefly with steps to overcoming them.

How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations? This is asked to determine how you can cope under stress in the workplace, or how you might handle working in a position with strict deadlines. A good approach to this is to briefly share how you overcame a tense situation at work and received a positive outcome.

What do you like to do outside of work? This is asked to help determine cultural fit and allows you display your personality. Be honest about your hobbies outside of work, but try to keep it brief and stay professional.

What are you looking for in this new position? This is an opportunity to reinforce your personal and professional goals by highlighting the skills you can bring to the job. Make reference to the company’s job description and explain how they fit your abilities.

What are your salary requirements? This is purposely asked to determine if you are a good fit for the job’s budgeted salary. Conduct a research beforehand on the position’s average salary range, potential job outlook and typical salary for someone with an advanced degree and/or related certification. Once a salary range has been determined, aim for an amount that applies, based on past experiences, education, and skills.

What challenge did you faced and how did you deal with it? The interviewer wants to learn how you would respond when you are confronted with a difficult situation at work. Answer by detailing a previous conflict or challenge that was handled professionally, productively and with a positive resolution.

What are your future goals? This is not only asked to measure your potential ambitions, and to see if the goals align with the company’s expectations but also to see if you are a forward-thinker with a personal and professional goals they’d like to accomplish at the company. While it’s generally acceptable to say you are unsure what the future holds, it may be beneficial to mention a few goals you’d like to accomplish with the desired job.

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